Stead headlines IBL's all-time top 100 players

Upon his induction into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in St Marys, Ont., in 2006, Ron Stead ranked as the Intercounty League leader in all-time wins (104), innings pitched (1,365), strikeouts (1,231), games started (151), complete games (116), and shutouts (25), even though he retired in 1972.

Feb. 6, 2018

IBL Reveals Complete List of Top 100 IBL Players

CAMBRIDGE, Ont. – The Intercounty Baseball League has selected its complete list of the Top 100 IBL Players of All-Time. Top 100 players will be honoured during the IBL 100th season banquet in Kitchener on Feb. 24.

The 100 Greatest IBL Players is a centerpiece in honouring 100 years of IBL baseball. A Blue Ribbon panel comprised of distinguished members of the baseball community - including executives, media members and IBL staff - selected the list of esteemed players.

The selected players will be honoured on Saturday, Feb. 24 at the IBL’s 100th season banquet hosted at the Crowne Plaza in Kitchener. Each attending player will receive a commemorative bat honoring their careers.

The complete list of players, their positions and the years, who have been voted among the Top 100:

Jordaan Castaldo has played for Oshawa, Toronto and Barrie, Castaldo was a seven-time all-star, a batting champ and MVP (2014( and a Playoff MVP (2015) batting .340 with 70 doubles, two triples, 45 homers and 245 RBIs.

INF-OF Dean Dicenzo was known as the John MacDonald of the IBL hitting .283 as three-time all-star who ranks seventh all-time in hits (594) and stolen bases (144) and is sixth in games played (53). The man who wanted to grow up in Glanbrook had 86 doubles, 17 triples, 18 homers and knocked in 229 runs. Photo: Kaz Novak.

Frankie Hare Hare won a batting title (2010) and MVP honours (2008), two seasons which helped him sit 10th all-time in stolen bases (128) and 12th in homer (57). He hit .354 with 83 doubles, nine triples and 263 RBIs.

Brantford owner Paul Aucoin congratulates Kevin Hinton on becoming the all-time hit leader in 2012. Hinton now sits second in games (758), hits (790), doubles (141) and RBIs (517). He is fourth in homers and 11th in triples. In his 27 seasons he hit .287, was a seven-time all-star and earned co-playoff MVP honours in 2003. Photo Kara Wilson.

LHP Mel Melehes, who dominated for Guelph and pitched for the host country in the 2004 Athens Olympics. Melehes pitched 15 years with a 90-45 record and a .282 ERA. Five times he was an all-star and twice won ERA titles (2003-04). He ranked fifth in strikeouts (570), 11th in wins and 17th in innings pitch (526).Photo: Greg Layson.

Murray Oliver was a two-sport start with the Boston Bruins in the winter and Guelph in the summer. Oliver played shortstop for seven seasons hitting .309 and earning all-star honours in 1961. He had 35 doubles, six triples, seven homers, 45 RBIs with 81 stolen bases.

Sean Reilly broke in during the 1997 season and he was with the Kitchener Panthers last year. A 12-time all-star at 1B, OF and DH, he won the batting title twice (2015, 2017) and was a four-time MVP (2011, 2013, 2015, 2017). A .345 hitter he ranks all-time in hit (882), home runs (177), doubles (147) and RBIs (719).Photo: Mathew McCarthy.

Paul Spoljaric went 94-65 (a .903 winning mark) with a 2.55 ERA in his nine seasons. Eight times he was an all-star, won an ERA title (2010) an MVP (2003) and is fifth all-time in wins and strikeouts (653).

Jimmy Wilkes went from the league's best CF to its best umpire. He ewas twice an all-star in his 10 years with Brantford hitting .295 with 28 doubles, five triples, eight homers, 144 RBIs and 61 stolen bases.

Long-time London Major Arden Eddie, whose career started in 1967 and ended in 2001. Eddie was a seven-time all-star and ranks No. 1 in games played (846) over his 34-year career. He sits third in hits (769) and stolen bases (179) and fifth in RBIs (670).

While panel members were able to select any player who played in the 100-year history of the IBL, each was provided with biographies and career statistics for players who met any of the following criteria:

It wouldn't be a top 100 unless rangy INF Alfie Payne, shown here with his young family, was on the list. Payne was the 1972 MVP and a five-time all-star with a .316 average. He had 58 doubles, three triples, 34 home runs and 173 RBIs.

i) any player who participated as a player in games between 1919 and 2017

ii) Only individual statistics and awards that have been earned as a player will be taken into account when naming individuals to this list. Player-managers are eligible but their accomplishments as managers (victories, championships, awards, etc.) will not be factored into the decision to name them to the Top 100. iii) Longevity and league dominance will be given the greatest weight in determining which players were named to the list. As such, players should have participated in the league for a minimum of five (5) seasons. Additionally, career records and honours such as MVP awards, All-Star teams, ERA/ batting titles will carry more weight than single-game records or one outstanding season.

Jim Ridley spent three years in the IBL and his whole life in baseball coaching and scouting after his playing days. Ridley was a two-time batting champ (1972, 1972), a three-time all-sat and an MVP (1974) and Playoff MVP (1974). He hit .369 with 26 doubles, five triples, 15 homers, 81 RBIs and 22 steals.

iv) Players who played 1-4 seasons (who had an outstanding IBL career) can also be submitted. Such players may be considered by the Committee depending on the number of openings and how such player(s) fit into the overall list.

About the IBL 100th Season Banquet: The Intercounty Baseball League (IBL) announced the details for the 100th Season Celebration Banquet hosted by the Kitchener Panthers, set for Saturday, February 24th in Kitchener.

This once in a lifetime event will be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel located at 105 King St E in Kitchener, Ontario from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

The festivities begin at 5 PM with social hour, dinner and program slated to start at 6 PM. Advance tickets are $100 per seat or $700 per table of eight.

Tickets can be purchased now at theibl.ca.

About the Intercounty Baseball League (IBL): The Intercounty Baseball League (IBL) is the top level baseball league in Ontario, boasting ex-major league professional and elite NCAA college baseball players. The 2018 season will mark the IBL’s 100th season. The IBL is the fifth longest continually operated baseball league in the world and serves as a valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff. More than 40 IBL players have advanced to Major League Baseball or returned to the IBL following the their MLB careers. The league is comprised of teams from Barrie, Brantford, Kitchener, London, Toronto, Guelph, Burlington and Hamilton. For more information, visit www.theibl.ca.